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ZKIOO 



MPORTANT OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. 



TERM OF OFFICE OF PRESIDENT JUAREZ. 



EXTEAOKDINARY POWERS CONFERRED 
BY CONGRESS... / 



UNEXAMPLED VOTES OF CONFIDENCE. 



FOUR SUCCESSIVE SESSIONS OF CONGRESS ENDORSE 
THE PRESIDENT. 



In the first election under the Constitution of 1857, Benito 
Juarez was elected President of the Supreme Court of Justice 
of M'exico and became, by virtue of tliat office, Vice Presi- 
dent of the Republic 

In January, 1858, a 'military rebellion, instigated by the 
Church party, broke out in t!ie city ©f Mexico and drove 
the Constitutional authorities from the capital. Comonfort, 
the neM'lj elected Constitutional President, fied trom the 
country. Under the Constitution, in the absence or iri 
default of President, that office devolved upon the Vice 
President, Benito Juarez. He proved to be a fdithful and an 
able man. Proceeding to the city of Queretaro he immediately 
issued a proclamation reorganizing the government, and 
commenced to raise forces to put down the rebellion and re- 
establish the supremacy of the Constitution and the Laws. 

It was an arduous and seemed to many a hopeless task. 
Almost without means, with all the iniuence of tlie Church 
and the Army against iiim, he had to fall back and establish tlie 



'^ 






seat of government, successively, at Gn an ajn at o, Guadalajara, 
and iir)all_y at Vera Cruz, Tiiere on the Qih of April, 1850, 
while the capital M-as still in the hands of the rebels, he was 
acknowledged by the United States as the lawful ruler of Mex- 
ico, and diplomatic relations were established with him, which 
have continued unbroken to the present time. 

"Well did the very first acts of President Juarez justify the 
confidence which induced his recognition. Embarrassed as 
he was by the rebellion, he neglected not the cause of Consti- 
tutional Liberty, In July, 1859, at Yera Cruz, he'promul- 
gated what are known as the "Laws of Keforn)," which secure 
religious Jjiberty, establitrh independence between Church and 
State, legalize civil marriage, declare the immense real estate 
of the Clergy to be national property, and direct its sale, and 
also suppress conventual establishments throughout the land. 

Three years of stubborn struggle and persistent effort fol- 
lowed. Th6 power of a trained Army and the wealth of a 
Clergy fighting for their ten)poral possessions on one side ; 
the industrious masses, poor but determined, and having un- 
bounded faith in their leader, on the other. After a long 
succession of varied fortune the bloody battle of San Miguel 
Calpulalpan, ir) which, on the 22d of December, 1860, half 
of the army of the rebellion was captured, together with forty 
pieces of artillery and all their munitions of war, sealed the 
triumph of the constitutional cause, and on the llth of Jan- 
uary, 1861, President Juarez and the constitutional authorities 
*e-entered the capital whence they had been driven just three 
years before. 

On the same day President Juarez issued a proclamation 
calling an election of members of Congress and of Presidential 
electors, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. 

At that titiie there was not a foreign soldier on the Mexican 
soil ; throughout the whole country the rebellion had termi- 
nated and tranquillity prevailed ; everything favored a free 
and unbiased election. The election was held and the result 
was the c^>oice, by an overwhelming majority, on June 11, 
1801, of Benito Juarez as President of the Republic for the 
ensuing term. One of the people, sprung from the ranks of 
the people and of the native Mexican race ; the proven pa- 



triot, the public servant of thirty years trial, and now the 
eaviour of the Constitution, no other choice was possible. 

Since then, foreign intervention — that last resort of defeated 
faction — has supervened ; and ail the world knows how Ben- 
ito Juarez, for raoi^ than four years past, has held aloft the 
flag of the Republic, and with what constancy, perseverance 
and devoted patriotism he has maintained the cause of Con- 
stitutional Liberty and of the independence of his native land. 

Durin^this period no elections could be held, and the re- 
newed choice of President, at the expiration of the constitu- 
tional period, has necessarily had to be postponed until the 
expulsion of the foreign invaders shall permit a free election 
to be held. 

It is under these circumstances that, by virtue of the au- 
thority conferred by the following laws, the term of President 
Juarez has been extended- 



D"KCREES OF CONGRESS, GRANTING EXTRAOK- 
DINARY POWERS. 



(••YNOP^^lS OV DOCUMKNT8. 

1. LaM' of Congress of December 11, 1861. First grant of 
powers. F^^e ^. 

2. Explanarorj speech of President of CongreBS at close of 
the session. Page 6. 

3. ExplauHtory article adopted in secret sessio^v of Con^resa 
reg:ardii»g tre.'Uies. Page 7. 

4. Law of CongreBS of 7th of Jnne, 18f31, referred to in lavr 
of December 11, 1861. Page 7- 

5. Artiele3 of the Con&titntion authorizing Congress to con- 
fer extraordinary powers. Page 1.0. 

f). Law of Congress of May £>, 18(32, containing the second 
grant of powers. Page 11. 

T. Law of Congress of October 27, lJ^6'2, containing ther 
third grant of powers. Page 12. 

S. Law of (Congress of May 27, 18(>t5, containing the foiirtl| 
and last grant of powers, Congress having since l>een prevented 
from meeting by the war. Page 13. 

9. Decree of President Juarez extending his term of oifice, 
the war with Fratjce liaviug prevented an election being held 
at the regular period, F*age 14, 



LAW OV DBCEMBEiC 11, 1861. 

Depaktment oe Government. 

Tke Citkcu Constitutional President of tlie Ilepublic has 
been pleased to address to me the fullowiug Decree : 

Benito Juarez, Constitutional President of the United Mex- 
ican States, to the inhaldtants of the same nniaketh known : 
That ihe Congress of tiie Union has tliought proper to decree 
the following : — 

AiiTioLE 1. The law of tiie Tth of June of the present year 
which suspended certain of the guarantees stipulated in the 
Constitution, is lierebj declared to be in force, and the pro- 
visi(His of the sauic are hereby extended si' as to include the 
suspension also of the guarantees coutained in articles 11 and 
27, in their lirst part. 

Art. 15. The Executiv^e is hereby fully authorized and em- 
powered to take such steps and adopt such useasures as in 
his judgment may be necessary under the existing circum- 
stances, without other restrictioas than that of saving the in- 
dependence and integrity of the national territory, the form 
of government established by the constitution and tlie prin- 
ciples and laws of reform. 

Art. 3. This suspension of guarantees, and ttie authoriza- 
tion conceded to the Executive by the present law, shall con- 
tinue uijtil thirty days after the next meeting of Congress, to 
whom account shall be given of the use that may have been 
made of these powers. 

Dated in the Hall of Sessions of the Congress of the Union 
in Mexico, December 11, 1861. 

VICENTE PJYA PALACIO, 

Presidetit of Congress. 

Juan M. Guzman, M. M. Ovando, 

Secretaries, 

Wherefore I order that it be printed, published, circulated 
and observed. 

National Palace of Mexico, Dec. 11, 1861. 

BENITO JUAREZ. 

To the Citizen Fkancisco J. Yillalobos, Chief Clerk in 
chaige of the Department of Government. 



6 

And I communicate the same to you for your intelligence 
and the consequent ends. 
Liberty and reform : — Mexico, Dec. 11, 1861. 

FRANCISCO J. VILLALOBOS. 
To the Citizen Governor of the Federal District. 



Extract from the speech of the President of Congiess at the 
close of the sessions of that body, on the 15th of December, 
1861, after conferring the foregoing extraordinary powers 
upon the Executive : — 

"By a decree, Congress, before closing its sessions, has au- 
thorized the Executive, in the most ample manner, to dictate 
all measures that he may deem necessary, under the present 
circumstances, to confront the situation, saving only the na- 
tional independence and integrity of territory, and the prin- 
ciples of the Constitution and of the Reform. By this, the 
greatest proof of confidence that a legislative assembly of the 
country has ever given to the depository of the executive 
power, Congress confides to this power the salvation of the 
Republic, because it is convinced that in moments so supreme 
energy and efficiency depend almost always upon unity of 
action ; and this idea is found also in our fundamental code 
in the part which authorizes Congress to concede to the Ex- 
ecutive extraordinary powers. Incalculable is the weight 
■which will rest upon the shoulders of the Executive. Terrible 
is the responsibility which from this day forward he is about 
to assume upon himself alone ; but also immense are the re- 
sources which are placed at his control, and unlimited the 
faculties which have been given him, The sole consideration 
of the necessity of saving the country decided Congress to 
take this step. Upon the Executive it now depends, and upon 
no other, to save the republic or precipitate it in the abyss. 
The National Assembly suspends to-day its legislativ'e labors; 
but it will remain always on the watch as the sentinel of the 
public liberties, and ready to return to meet again at the 
moment when its presence shall be in any manner necessary 
for the good of the country. It will then receive from the 



Executive an account of this power which to-day it delivers 
into his hands with so blind a confidence. If the foreiorn 
question is not settled pacifically ; if a scene of war is to be 
spread out over our country, we will enter into the combat,; 
and the justice of our cause and the love of our country, 
will present more or less near, but always certain and beau- 
titul, a future for Mexico. God guard the republic." 



The following is an explanatory article adopted in secret 
session of Congress, on the 13tli of December as appears by 
proceedings afterwards published by order of Congress. 

"Account was given of a communication from the Depart- 
ment of Foreign Relations, accompanying an initiative that 
it might be declared precisely whether in the faculties con- 
ceded to the Executive by the law of the llth instant, was 
that of concluding treaties w'ith foreign governments and 
placing ihem in force. It was ordered to be passed to the 
committee which had already reported on the subject. The 
rules were dispensed with and the following article was 
adopted by a vote of 60 against 41, viz : 

Article 1. In consequence and resulting from the discus- 
sion and adoption of article two of the law of the llth iust., 
the government is authorised to conclude treaties and conven- 
tions and to place the same in course of execution, without 
the necessity of the approbation of Congress." 



Law of Congress of 7th June, 1861, referred to in the law 
of December 11, 1861:— 

Department of Foreign Relations ) 
AND of Government. f 
His Excellency, the President ad interim of the Republic, 
has been pleased to address to me the following decree : — 

The citizen Benito Juarez, Constitutional President ad in- 
terim of the United Mexican States, to the inhabitants of the 



saiiio luaketii known: That the sovereign Ocmgress of the {Jiiion 
has thought proper to decree the iolhtwing : 

AuTicLK 1. The lirst part of article tive, section tirst, title 
one of the Constitution shall remain in these tern»s : — In case 
of national public interest, every incHvidnal may be obliged 
to lend personal service, a just ren^uneration always being 
rendered. 

Art. '2. The guarantee conceded by article seven of the 
*iame title and section is hereby suspended. 'Ihe liberty of 
the press shall be subject, for the present, to the law of the 
28th December, 1855, in so far as it is not opposed to the 
laws of Reform ; but with respect to writings which directly 
or indirectly attack the n>itional independence and institu- 
tions, public order, or the prestige of the ])nblic authorities, 
the government may anticipate judicial sentence, imposing 
upon the authors of such publications, a tine not exceeding 
one thousand dollars, which shall be exacted from the owner 
of the press, in case the author is unknown or has not the 
means to satisfy it. The government may, in place of a pe- 
cuniary fine, impose that of imprisonment or confinement for 
six months. The Governors of the States can impose similar 
penalties ; but, in case of confinement, they shall give account 
to the general governn enr, that it may designate the place, 
the offender meanwhile remaining properly secured. The 
members of the Congress of tiie Union shall be subject the 
same as other citizens, to ihe prescriptions of this article. 

Art. 3. For the exercise of the guarantee conceded by 
article nine, in political aflairs, the permission of the author- 
ities shall be required. 

AuT..4. The Governors of the States and of the federal 
district, and the political chiefs of the Territories shall imme- 
diately issue regulations with regard to the carrying of arms, 
and shall designate what are prohibited, and the requisites for 
the use of those that are permitted — under the understanding 
that in no case shall this be made the pretext for the imposi- 
tion of any pecuniary charge. In this sense the guarantee 
conceded by article ten shall remain restricted. 

Art. 5. The guarantees referred to in the first part of arti- 
cle thirteen, that conceded in the second part of article 



eighteen, and in the first and Becond part of ai'ticle nineteen, 
are lierehy sns]iended. 

Art. 6. Tlie tirst part of article 16 is restricted in the-,e 
terms: — No one may be molested in his person, lionse or 
possessions, except bj virtne of tJie order of a competent au- 
thority. 

Art. 7. The guarantee conceded in article 21, with respect 
to political offences, is hereby suspended. The general gov- 
ernment alone in case of political offences, can impose correc- 
tional penalties not exceeding one year of seclusion, confine- 
ment or bainshment. These penaltes shall only be applied 
in cases where the offenders shall not have been submitted to 
the judicial au'hoi'ity. 

Akt. 8. From the moment of taking pai't, with arms in 
hand, in tavorof whatever political opinion, the offence ceases 
to be merely political, and becomes mei'ged in those of crim- 
inal law. 

Akt. 9. The second part of article 26 is hereby limited in 
these terms : — In time of war, tlie military authorities may 
exact transportation, quarters and personal service in the 
terms directed by the ordinances of war. 

Akt. 10. The suspension of these guarantees sliall continue 
for the term of six months. 

Art. 11. The law of the 6th of December, 1856, with refer- 
ence to conspirators, is hereby declared to have been and to 
be in force. 

Dated in the Hall of Sessions of the Congress of the Union 
in Mexico, the Ttli oi June, 1861. 

FRANCISCO DE P. CENDEJAS, 

Fice Prefiident of Congress. 

E. RoBLES Gil and G. Valle, 

Stcretiwies. 

Wherefore, and with the accord of the Council of Minis- 
ters, I order that it be printed, published, circulated and 

observed. 

Dated at the National Palace of Mexico, the 7th of June, 

1861. 

BENITO JUAREZ. 



10 

To tlie Citizen Leon Guzman, Minister of Foreign Rela- 
tions and of Government. 

And I communicate the same to you for your intelligence 
and the consequent ends. 

God and Liberty — Mexico, Jane 7, 1861. 

GUZMAK 
To the Citizen Governor of Federal District. 



The articles of the constitution relating to the suspension of 
guarantees and the grant of extraordinary powers by Con- 
gress to the Executive are as follows : (See Constitution of 
Mexico. Diplomatic Correspondence on Mexican Affairs for 
1861, p. 140, title 1, section 1.) 

Art. 29. In case of invasion, grave disturbance of the pub- 
lic peace, or whatever cause which may put society in great 
peril or conflict, solely the President of the Republic, in con- 
currence with the Council of Ministers, and with the approba- 
tion of the Congress of the Union, and in the recess of this 
the permanent deputation, may suspend the guarantees estab- 
lished by this Constitution, with the exception of those that 
asfure the life of man ; but such suspension shall be only for 
limited time, by means of general provisions, and of such a 
character as not to favor a determined individual purpose. 
If the suspension takes place dunng the session of Congress, 
this shall grant such authorization as they shall deem neces- 
sary to enable the Executive to confront the circumstances. 
If it shall take place during recess, the permanent deputation 
shall, without delay, convoke the Congress for its advice and 
action. 

Title 3, Section 1, Paragraph 3, Art. T2. 

30th. — Congress has the power of making all laws which 
may be necessary and proper to render effective the foregoing 
powers, and all others conceded by the Constitution to the 
powers of the Union. 

Title 8, Art. 128. — This constitution shall not lose its force 
and vigor, even if its observance be interrupted by any re- 
bellion. In case that by means of such an event a govern- 



11 

ment shall have been established contrary to the principles 
which it sanctions, immediately upon the people recovering 
their liberty its observance shall be re-established, and ac- 
cording to its provisions and the laws which have been 
framed in virtue of it, shall be judged, as well those who 
have figured in the government emanating from the rebel- 
lion, as those who have co-operated with it. 



law of may 3, 1862. 

Depaktment of Foreign Relations 
AND OF Government. 

Benito Juarez, Constitutional President of the United 
Mexican States, to the inhabitants of the same maketh 
known : That the Congress of the Union has thought proper 
to decree the following : — 

Article 1. The suspension of guarantees established by 
the law of 11th December, 1861, is hereby continued. 

Art. 2. The Executive is again authorized, in the terms 
prescribed in the said law, with the limitations therein es- 
tablished, and besides that of not intervening in matters of 
a judicial order commenced, or that may be pursued, be- 
tween private individuals. 

Art. 3. The suspension of guarantees and the authoriza- 
tion to the Executive spoken of in this law shall continue 
until the meeting of Congress, on the 16th of September next ; 
and if then its meeting shall be impossible, by reason of the 
foreign war, or from the elections not having taken place, 
they shall continue until the next first meeting of Congress 
shall take place. 

Art. 4. In case that the regular elections of members of 
Congress cannot take place in certain of the districts on the 
days prescribed by law, the government will take care to 
designate other periods, in order that the meeting of Con- 
gress may take place at the earliest possible moment. 

Art. 5. The Executive will give an account of the use 
that he may make of the faculties and powers conceded to 
him by this law within the first fifteen days after the meeting 
of the national Congress. 



12 

Dat(!cl ill the liiill of ISestsions of tbe Coiigress ut the Union, 
Mexico, May 3, 1862. 

JOSE LIXAllES, 
Pre^sidetit of Congress. 
Kkmigio Ibankz, M. M. Ovando, 

/Secretaries. 
Wherefore I (trder that it be printed, circuhited and due 
cotnplitmee he oiven to it. 

Nati<»nal Palace of ALicxico. Miiy 3, 1S62. 

BENITO JUAREZ. 
To tiie Citizen Manuel Dohladu, Minister of Foreii:;n Re- 
lations find of Government. 

And I camniunicate the earrie to yon for your knowledge 
and the conseqnent ende. 

God and Lil)erty — Mexico, May 3, 18()2. 

DOBLADO. 
To the Citizen Goveunok of the Federal District. 



law of october 27, 1862. 

Depari'ment of Foreign Relations ) 
AND OF Government. f 

The Citizen President of the Repnblic has thought proper 
to transmit to me the t'o!lo\vitig decree: — The citizen Benito 
Juarez, Constitutional President of the United Mexican States, 
to the in]ial)itan»s of the same maketh known : — That the Con- 
gress of the Union has thought proper to decree the following : 

Art. 1. The di-^positions contained in articles 1 and 2 of the 
law of May 3 last, are dechired in full force. 

Art. 2. The suspension of guarantees and the authoriza- 
tions conceded t(» the Executive by the present law will last 
six months; pi'ovided that peace with France is not re-estab- 
lished before the end of that period. If the war should last 
more than six months, said suspension and authoiization will 
last until thirty days after the reasenibling of Congress. 

Art. 3. The Executive will give an account of what use he 
has made of these faculties within fifteen days after the au- 
thorizations have ceased. 

Art. 4. It is declared that the Executive has do faculty to 
interfere nor to decide in civil afJairs l)etween private per- 



1.^ 

sotis, or in criminal cases in wbicli offence of private right®. 
is only involveii. 

Art. 5. In the powers a^ran ted by this decree is ii<»t included 
that of contravenin«i in any way the provisions of title four 
of tlie consiitntion [regarding- the- responsibility of public 
functionaries.] 

Given in the Hall of Sessions of the Congress of the Union 
in Mexico, October 27, 18(52. 

JOSE GOKZALES ECHERTAIUA. 

President of Congres.^. 
Felix Romeko, .roAQurisr M. Alcalbe, 

Secretaries. 

Wherefore I order that it be printed, published and car- 
ried into eifecr. 

National Palace of M?l\ico, October 27, 1S62. 

BENITO JUAREZ. 

To the citizen Juak Antonio de la Fuente, Minister of 
Foreign Relations and of Government. 

And I coiTiraunicate the same to yow for your informaticn 
and the consequent ends. 

Liberty and Reform — Mexico, October 27, 1862. 

FUENTE. 
To the Citizen Governor of the Federal District. 



law of may 27, 1863. 

Department of Foreign Rklations ] 
AND OF Government. j 

The Citizen President of the Republic has been pleased to 
address to me the following decree : — Benito Juarez, Consti- 
tutional President of the United Mexican States, to the in- 
habitants of the same maketh known ; That the Congress of 
the Union has been pleased to decree the following: — 

Akt. 1. The suspension of individaal guarantees, ordained 
by the law of 27th October, 1862, and the concession of 
powers, which, by the said law, was made to the Executive, 
is hereby extended until thirty days after the next meeting 
of Congress in ordinary session, or before, if the war with 



14 

France is terminated ; continuing also in force the conditions 
and restrictions imposed upon the Executive by the aforesaid 
law. 

Art. 2. In what relates to treaties, agreements or diplo- 
matic conventions that the government may conclude, it is 
understood that it shall not admit any kind of intervention. 

Dated in the Hall of Sessions, of the Congress of the Union, 
in Mexico, May 27, 1863. 

S. LERDO DE TEJADA, 

President of Congress. 
Francisco Bustamente, M. M. Ovando, 

Secretaries. 

Wherefore I order that it be printed, published and 
observed. 

National Palace of Mexico, May 27, 1863. 

BENITO JUAREZ. 

To the Citizen Juan Antonio de la Fuente, Minister of 
Foreign Relations and of Government. 

And I communicate the same to you for the consequent 
ends. 

Liberty and Reform — Mexico, May 28, 1863. 

FUENTE. 
To the Citizen Governor of the Federal District. 



degree of president JUAREZ EXTENDING HIS TERM OF OFFICE. 

Department of Foreign Relations and of \ 
Government, Paso del Norte, Nov. 8, 1865. f 

The Citizen President of the Republic has been pleased to 
address to me the following decree : — 

Benito Juarez, Constitutional President of the United Mex- 
ican States, to the inhabitants of the same maketh known : — 
In accordance with the ample faculties confered upon me by 
the National Congress by its decrees of December 11, 1861, 
May 3, and October 27, 1862, and May 27, 1863, and in con- 
sideration — 

First — That in articles seventy-eight, seventy-nine, eighty 
and eighty-two of the Federal Constitution — the only articles 



15 

whicli treat of the period of the functions of the President 
of the Republic and of the mode of supplying his place — the 
case only was anticipated of the possibility of holding a new 
election for President, and the actual fact of none being 
held, without any provision for the case of a war like the 
present, in which, while the enemy occupies a great part of 
the national territory, it is impossible that general elections 
should be held at the ordinary stated times assigned for them. 

Second — That in the said articles of the Constitution in order 
to supply a vacancy in place of President of the Republic, 
provision is made for entrusting the executive power to the 
President of the Supreme Court of Justice; but only tempo- 
rarily, in this one case that was anticipated, that a new elec- 
tion might as soon as possible be held. 

Third — That, as it is impossible now to have an election on 
account of the war, the fact of the President of the Supreme 
Court of Justice entering upon the duties of the government 
for an indefinte period would imply a prolongation and ex- 
tension of his powers beyond the literal presriptions of the 
Constitution. 

Fourth — -That by the supreme law of the necessity of the 
preservation of the government, the continuance in the present 
case of the powers of the President and of his substitute 
is the most conformable to the Constitution ; because in 
order to avoid the danger of leaving the government without 
a head, it was established that there should be two function- 
aries, of whom one could supply the place of the 6ther ; and 
because, conformably to the votes of the people, the Presi- 
dent of the Republic was elected primarily and directly to ex- 
ercise the functions of government, while the President of 
the Supreme Court was elected primarily and directly to ex- 
ercise judicial functions, the executive power being entrusted 
to him only secondarily and provisionally, in case of absolute 
necessity. 

Fifth — And, considering that as the present case has not 
been provided for in the Constitution, the right of declaring 
what is most conformable to its spirit and prescriptions be- 
longs exclusively to the legislative authority, which, by the 
law of the 11th of December, 1861, confirmed by other re 




1(1 



015 833 250 4 % 



pcated votes of contldaMce <»t' the national Ooiijjre-js, was 
<lele'i:ated to tlie l^ie&iduut ol" the Kepnl)lic in order tliat, 
wifliont heinjjj subject to ordinary constitutional rules, he 
ini^ht l)e '" invested with plenary power to make whatever 
i'e£>;tdations he uiij^ht; judge convenient, under the present 
circnin>itances, without other restricrions than those of saving 
the independence and the integrity of the national territory, 
the form <>f governnient established l>y the Constitution and 
the principles and laws of Reform," 

I liave thought proper to decree as follows : — 

Aktiolk 1, In the pressent state of war, the functions ot" 
the President of the Republic ought to be, and they are 
liereby, continued for the time that may be necessary be- 
yond the ordinary constitutional period, until the govern- 
ment can be transferred to the new Rieiident that may be 
elected as soon as the condition of the war may permit an 
election to be constitutionally held. 

Art. 2. Simlarly, the powers of the person who holds 
the position of President of the Suprenie Court of Justice, 
should be, and they are hereby, continued for the time neces- 
sary, beyond the ordinary period, in order that, in case the 
President of the Republic should fail, he may be able to take 
his place. 

Wherefore it is ordered that this decree be printed, pub- 
lished, circulated, and have due faith given to it. 

Given at Paso del Norte on the eighth day of November, 
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-tive. 

BENITO JUAREZ. 

To Skbabtian Lekdo de Tejada, Minister of Foreign Affairs 
and of Government. 

And I communicate the same to you for your information 
and that it may have due effect. 

Independence and Liberty — Paso del Norte, November 8, 
1865. 

LERDO DE TEJADA. 

Note. — For copy of the Constitution of Mexico see 1st vol. 
Dip. Cor. on Mexican affairs, 11. R., April 14, 1862, p. 140. 



I IRR&RY OF CONGRESS 

imuumm 

015 833 250 4 



